Is A Dachshund the Right Dog For You?

What a nice essay on Dachshunds! We currently have two of them. One mini (Brutus) and one standard Oscar). We were fostering Oscar and just couldn't let him go, so we adopted him. It was so wonderful to see how he bonded to Brutus. They snuggle and play. It's great!

I have one he is 7 months old and his name is Brutus... His mommy died when he was 2 days old she had 9 puppies 6 of the girls died, and the 3 boys lived. They were hand fed by my co workers daughter. He is so spoiled already. He has attended obedience class, but we still have much work to do with him. I got him, because my co worker wanted to make sure that he went to a good home.... and I wanted a puppy to keep my 14 year old (mixed breed) dog company. Bear and Brutus don't always get along, but I believe that Bear has become more active now. I also have to large outside dogs Speck and Abraham, that Brutus loves to play with. I am glad that I found this site! When I look into his eyes, my heart just melts, he makes me laugh

Oh wow you are SOOOO right!! We have had ours for almost 18 months and she is the best dog! She is AWESOME with our kids and loves them as much as they love her. The saying is so true about you don't own them they own you! Ours has taken to going back to bed when we aren't in bed. She has her spot and that is where we know to find her. Its not our bed anymore its hers!

well, about kids, ours are really great with them, and they didn't live with any growing up, just the neighborhood kids. I also grew up with dachshunds, so the kid thing can be relative, and I would recomend raising the two together, unless an adult was already comfortable with kids. My non-doxie mutt is not used to the young-uns, but with consistant socialization with them, he will soon love them.


We all have to remember, to a dog, a child is a totally different creature that a human. Its like suddenly introducing them to a goat. No, like introducing them to a chimpanzee.

Thank you so much for posting this article. As a new, first time doxie parent, I did find it very informative.

I must say, my 5 mo. old doxie loves children. I have two boys ages 8 & 10 and I babysit children aging 10 mo. to 3 yrs. The 3 yr old girl begs me to let him come out and play with her, which I often do (while keeping a close eye on them since he is not housebroken yet) and for the most part the play they together very nicely. He does, however, nip at her clothes and tries to play with her in the same way as he would a littermate. I just put him back in his room when he starts to get too rough.

Thank you so much for posting this article. As a new, first time doxie parent, I did find it very informative.

I must say, my 5 mo. old doxie loves children. I have two boys ages 8 & 10 and I babysit children aging 10 mo. to 3 yrs. The 3 yr old girl begs me to let him come out and play with her, which I often do (while keeping a close eye on them since he is not housebroken yet) and for the most part the play they together very nicely. He does, however, nip at her clothes and tries to play with her in the same way as he would a littermate. I just put him back in his room when he starts to get too rough.

Off-topic here, but further to your dilemma: instead of locking that poor puppy in a separate room, how about using a playpen for him? That way he is contained but still in contact with the general goings-on of the household. He's just curious and that's the nature of puppies.

Also, as you know the dachshund has to be carefully handled; please teach the little girl how to pick up the puppy/play with him without causing trauma to his back.

Jackie & Gus

I too am appreciative of this essay. As a doxie breeder, I would like it if all of my customers had to read this to MAKE SURE they got a clue of what they were getting into. I do believe that the doxies do turn the word dog into god sometimes. I know mine think I worship them

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS POST! I'm a new dachshund mom, but I read so much about them before I got him...now that he's with me everyday I understand more and more...
thanx for this post!

Ok, OK, I have to voice my opinion. I have had doxies all my life. I have had 9 and they have all been great with children. One little black one, was spayed, and when I brought my new born son home from the hospital, she thought he was her's. I was a first time mom and was trying to bath my son and had to put the baby tub on the floor cause little Maxine would cry so bad when he was out of her sight. I had to take him out of the crib and put him on the bed for a nap, because she would sit on the bed and cry looking into the crib at him. I placed pilliows all around the two of them and thats where they both napped. One day I notices she had milk dripping out of her nipples. I was flabergasted! I called the vet and she ( doxie owner ) said, "She thinks she is the mom!" She told me to get a rubber doll for the dog and maybe she would bond with that. NO SUCH LUCK. It took a full month before she started to let go of HER baby. She was with us for my second sons birth 4 years later and she loved him, but no mommy act. She was with us for 16 years, and OH MY we still miss her, We miss all our babies that have passed. We love them all, all have their oun personalities, and every one has been a love. My husband always had German Shepards, so when we got married, and got a house, I said time for a doxie. He was resistant...but after we got one...He is a lover too. He is 6'4" tall and the picture of him walking two doxies, has people turn their heads, but the funniest is when he picks them up and walks away, all you see is two long tails wrapped around their Dad's waist ,hugging their dad!!

As with all dog breeds, individual dogs have their own personalities, but there are some traits that are very common throughout the breed. For example, because they were bred to hunt independently and to kill their prey, dachshunds - especially smooth dachshunds - tend to be stubborn. Poor training can result in excessive barking and housebreaking difficulties in some dachshunds as a result of their stubborn, independent nature. Effective training is a must for all dogs, including dachshunds.

We adopted "Max" in September from our local shelter. He's a full blooded, smooth miniature and we love him dearly. He will be 1 year old in January of 2008.

My wife and I have tried, tried and tried to housebreak Max. His "sister" is a three year old, full blooded Scottie female and she is fully housebroken.

Max will pee on the carpet whenever he feels like it. He knows what he's done - we don't spank him; we say "no" and tell him to "go outside". We've tried all the tricks and advice that we can find. Basically, he is stubborn. He knows better and doesn't care. From crating him to limiting his intake of water... it's been futile.

We'll continue to work with Max but please, to those people who are thinking about a Dachshund - please take the time to read all of the "pee" comments on this board. If you don't like pee in your house then do NOT get a Dachshund. Having owned several different breeds (boxer, samoyed, several scotties and one shar-pei {the smartest breed I've encountered}) I can say without hesitation that Dachshunds are not "home friendly".

Dachshunds like to pee where they like to pee. Don't get a Dachshund unless you're ready to have spotty carpets. Unfortunately, we adopted Max without knowing about the house-breaking issues with the breed. That's our fault. Guilty!

We love Max very much and we'll never have another Dachshund.